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[email protected]. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "She was very strong personality, really funny, really smart," said Ludovic Michaud, Essie Nakajjigo's husband. Legal Statement. After requesting that the family leave the courtroom, she recounted the moment Michaud realized his wife had been killed, when he inhaled the copper-tinged smell of blood, turned to figure out what it was and saw she was dead. "How do you measure someone like her? Instead, the familys civil lawsuit largely focused on the amount of damages merited. The Grand County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident. Read more about Traffic and Travel Tips. It's known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, tragically died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into the car she and her 26-year-old husband Ludovic Michaud were driving as they exited the parking lot of the Utah landmark. He is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. "The trail up to Delicate Arch has reopened for use. WebHuman rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020, when a traffic control gate blew into her rental car at Arches National Park in the US state of Utah. "The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.". On June 13, they had gone on a hike and had a picnic. By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda, attorney Randi McGinn said in a statement announcing the award. Nakijjijo, originally from Uganda, "was a world-renowned activist, movie and TV star as well as a youth influencer," the claim says. WebThey said claims by the family's lawyers that Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time of her death, was on track to be a nonprofit CEO shortly were too speculative to be used as a basis for 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Michaud and his wife, Esther Nakajjigo, were in Arches National Park. The WebDENVER -- Ludovic Michaud has notified the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service that he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit because of a crash at the entrance For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey, according to the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit. WebHikers walk beside the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Winter conditions make for slippery hiking; proceed with caution," the tweet said. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Denver woman Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud, were visiting Arches National Park in mid-June when a freak accident left Nakajjigo dead. Shes got quite a few projects started, and we need to make sure those projects survive after her. We loved getting out and going to beautiful places," Michaud said. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. She was named the country's ambassador for women and girls soon after, and passionately advocated to reduce teen pregnancy and increase educational opportunities for Ugandan women. Shelly Bradbury is a breaking news reporter who joined The Denver Post in November 2019. In his ruling, Judge Jenkins said that the death was gruesome and overwhelmingly shocking.. Claim says gate penetrated car of a Denver man and his new wife during a strong windstorm at Utahs Arches National Park. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year.. The National Park Service and Arches National Park are accused of not securing the gate, which was installed to swing in the wrong direction and was being held open by a flimsy metal tab that was worn down and rounded, according to the claim. On the edge of the park, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. The park was at capacity and it was just after 8 a.m. National parks want to Arches National Park is a 120-square-mile desert landscape near Moab, Utah, that is visited by more than 1.5 million people annually. Provided by One of the Denver couple's stops was Arches National Park near Moab. WebUSA TODAY 0:00 0:49 Two people died Friday while hiking in Arches National Park in Utah. Nakajjigo was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and started a social entrepreneurship program in early 2019. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good.". just as COVID-19 was starting to make U.S. headlines, Do not sell or share my personal information. By the time Nakajjigo left Uganda to pursue a fully-funded leadership course in Denver, she had raised enough money to build health care facilities in her hometown. More Videos Next up in 5 By Thomas Peipert, Associated Press The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured gate at Utahs Arches National Park. The show had an audience of 6.3 million every week. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Email:
[email protected] As they entered, high winds blew the park entrance gate a swinging pole back across the highway. Trademark and Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. A newlywed couples road trip to Arches National Park in Utah ended in tragedy when a metal gate at the park exit swung across the road and decapitated the 25-year-old woman as she rode in a car. Michauds attorneys also said the federal government was aware of the dangers, citing a 1980 accident in which a man was impaled by an unsecured gate as he rode in the back of a pickup in Californias Stanislaus National Forest. (CCA-BY-2.0). 2 min read June 17, 2021 - 6:27AM Esther DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a woman killed while visiting Arches National Park is hoping they can change the dangerous conditions that lead to her death and continue the philanthropy she inspired around the globe. Fox News Flash top headlines for December 6. The tragic accident is now the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit Michaud and Nakajjigo's family are pursuing, in which they argue that the U.S. Park Service was negligent and did not maintain the gates at the entrances and exits to the parks, leading to Nakajjigo's death. He didn't know Nakajjigo had a massive following in her native Uganda. WebVideo of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was in the front passenger seat as they drove toward the gate at about the same speed as other vehicles, according to a The familys claim said that three other people in cars were killed by such gates on National Park Service property since 1988. A lot of people just want to continue that because thats what she would have wanted from us.. She previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Uganda's capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. Employees knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle, wrote Chang, who plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected.. Chief Ranger Scott Brown said a 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after falling into the bowl area near Delicate Arch. A gust of wind apparently dislodged the arm of the metal gate, which swung across the roadway. Then the car carrying him and his wife stopped. ", "What he saw and experienced that day, I cannot even imagine," said Deborah Chang, an attorney representing Michaud and the Nakajjigo family. 2 injured, including officer, in Aurora crash, 2 hurt, including officer, in rollover crash, Documentary featuring local family coping with loss after suicide aims to open up conversations, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Drexel University, Luff Peace Fellowship at Watson Institute, Search of Aurora house in case of missing teen Lashaya Stine continues, Head brewer at Denver Beer Co. dies in climbing accident. Image via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr/user: Brian Turner. The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state our community can better understand itself. In 2018, she participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Drexel University, and she was also the recipient of the 2018 Luff Peace Fellowship at Watson Institute. WebEsther Nakajjigo died on June 13 after a metal gate swung into a car she and her husband were in and sliced het head off Credit: Handout. In opening statements Monday in Salt Lake City, attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigo's family said they were seeking $140 million in damages from the government. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos.. On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against The United Nations Population Fund gave her a Woman Achiever Award when she was 17, and she was named Ugandas Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony. Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Newlywed killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Bay Area honeymooners say snorkel boat abandoned them off Maui coast, At least 26 killed in fiery train crash in Greece, If it was your child, when would you give up? Mother searches for 5-year-old son swept away in January floods, Online fundraiser emerges for Brentwood father who died while kayaking. Her family is filing a $270 million wrongful death claim against the park, saying her death was preventable. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo A video of the crash shows Michaud was driving and Nakajjigo was "I had a ton of flashbacks. Deborah Chang, the Los Angeles-based attorney representing Michaud, claimed there was nothing he could do to swerve out of the way of the gate that killed his wife and missed him by a hair. "We dont know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, to attend the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators. NBC reported that he was flown to Moab Regional Hospital. The newlyweds were driving during a camping trip on June 13, when a strong gust of wind blew an unsecured metal gate that sliced through the side of their car and decapitated Nakajjigo. She's been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice, breaking news and enterprise. Last month, Nakajjigos husband, Ludovic Michaud, and her parents filed a $270 million wrongful-death claim a precursor to a formal lawsuit alleging that the gate should have been secured to prevent it from swinging into the road. She received numerous other humanitarian awards and created a popular reality television series aimed at empowering young mothers. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Attorney Deborah Chang, who filed the claim on behalf of Michaud, as well as Nakajjigos parents, wrote that the National Park Service has for years used entrance and exit gates made of metal poles with spear-like sharp ends, and they were known to swing into roadways when left unsecured.. Arches National Park, which has more than 2,000 natural stone arches,closed Delicate Arch on Friday for a about six hours before it reopened, the parksaid on Twitter. He said he didn't deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst, File). The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured gate at Utahs Arches National Park. Example video title will go here for this video. A YOUNG activist hailed as a "future Princess Diana or Oprah" for her work was decapitated in a gruesome accident while she and her husband were hiking in Arches National Park. Nakajjigo grew up in Uganda and at 17 was recognized by the United Nations for her work for women shed donated her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center that provided free reproductive health services to young women. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics. The pair married in March of this year. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. This story has been updated to correct Michauds age. A gavel. 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Produced by the Discovery Channel, this video highlights the geological marvels and cultural history of both Arches and Canyonlands, with footage of the spectacular and challenging red rock wilderness surrounding them. The three people involved were related, Brown said. WebWidower Struggles With Loss After Wife Decapitated By Gate In Arches National Park 1,777,542 views Nov 12, 2020 30K Dislike Save CBS Colorado 98.1K subscribers WebDenver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes death Family awarded $10.5 million for newlywed decapitated by metal gate at Arches National Park in Utah Join the conversation! The family is hoping to use money from the case to continue Essie's projects. WebThe United States will pay family members of a Ugandan human rights activist who was killed in a 2020 accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ", The widower described his late wife as someone who was "always willing to help.". All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! WebIn 2020, Ludovic Michaud was driving with his 25-year-old wife Esther Nakajjigo out of Utah's Arches National Park to get ice cream on June 13 when a metal gate swung into the car On October 22, Michaud filed a wrongful death claim against the US National Parks Service seeking $270million in damages. CBS News reports that the case attracted significant attention, considering the gruesome circumstances and Nakajjigos status as a relatively well-known human rights activist. Ludovic Michaud and Essie Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud), Denver Woman Decapitated By Gate: Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! WebEsther Nakajjigo was killed at Utahs Arches National Park when a metal pipe from a swinging gate decapitated her. "Our mission is to make sure this doesnt happen again," Michaud said. Webcam Entrance Station Webcam For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey, according to the claim, which is a precursor to a formal lawsuit. No An official form of the United States government. The gate narrowly missed Michaud, who was driving. Elon Musk Wins Funding Secured Shareholder Lawsuit, Blog vs YouTube Over Other Websites: How to Choose, Behind the Story of Ghostbed vs. Purple Mattress Lawsuit, Investigation Reveals Goodyears Dunlop D402 Tires Have Caused Dozens of Motorcycle Accidents, Amputees Third Attempt at Holding Medical Personnel Responsible Pays Off. Decapitated human rights activists family wins $10 million lawsuit after accident at Utah park, Denver newlyweds trip to Arches National Park ends with wifes death, Family awarded $10.5 million for newlywed decapitated by metal gate at Arches National Park in Utah. The webcams below provide views from either end of the Arches National Park entrance road. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. WebSALT LAKE CITY Ludovic Michaud, of Denver, was driving around the scenic red rock landscapes of Utah's Arches National Park on a windy spring day in 2020 when something Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. However, she eventually became the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda, which emphasized womens empowerment, educational attainment, and equitable access to health care. Nakajjigo and Michaud, a French-born tech solutions architect, met on a dating app last year and tied the knot at a courthouse ceremony in March. Its near it but not there. The humanitarian had traveled to the US to further her studies and was awarded with the Luff Peace Fellowship by the University of Boulder in Colorado. The park which has over 2000 arches that All rights reserved. After COVID-19 closures were lifted, the newlyweds took a trip to Arches National Park. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I'm still struggling with that," Michaud said. "Despite this fact, the NPS has done nothing to ensure the safety of its visitors and guests.". Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died in June 2020 as she and her husband of three months drove out of the park, in southern Utah. The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Ugandas Young Personality of the Year,' the Denver Post reported in a 2020 article detailing Nakajjigos death. Arches National Park, notes CBS News, had just re-opened recreation following a decrease in coronavirus cases. Employees knew or should have known that winds strong enough to carve stone are certainly strong enough to blow an unrestrained metal pipe gate into the path of an oncoming vehicle, Chang wrote in the claim. Nakajjigo was born in Kampala, Uganda, and used her university tuition money to start a nonprofit community health care center when she was 17, providing free reproductive health services to girls and young women, according to a biography included in the claim. Michaud is asking for more than $220 million in damages for wrongful death, and $20 million in damages for personal injury. The couple had traveled to Arches in celebration of their one-year anniversary of meeting. The couple planned to throw a big wedding in Uganda once the coronavirus pandemic - instead, Michaud is now in mourning and hopes that his claim will save others from experiencing a similar pain. There was less than a second between when the gate started to move and when it struck the car and killed Nakajjigo, according to the report. WebThe photo in this video of the arch is Corona Arch and I dont its in Archs national park. According to the family's claim, three other people have died from similar accidents with unsecured gates over the past 32 years. In the fatal incident, a gust of wind apparently dislodged it and sent it smashing into the passenger side of the couples rented car. or redistributed. They married about three months prior. The suit was filed on June 8. Web6 Esther Nakajjigo was a Ugandan human rights activist and newlywed wife when the 25-year-old was killed at Arches National Park in 2020, decapitated by an unsecured gate that is Nakajjigo, who grew up in Uganda, had been recognized since she was a teenager for her work promoting health services and education for young women and girls. The lawsuit, adds CBS, observed that the activists death could have been prevented if Arches National Park had simply purchased an $8 padlock for the unsecured gate. She was also named Uganda's Ambassador for Women and Girls at the ceremony; just a few of her numerous humanitarian awards. "Our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our societys future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates, or Oprah Winfrey," the claim says. They headed to Arches National Park as soon as the park reopened in June from its coronavirus shutdown. She was living in Boulder, Colorado, and attending the Watson Institute, a program for young entrepreneurs and innovators, when she met Michaud. The gate barely missed Michaud. Delicate Arch is seen at Arches National Park on April 25, 2021, near Moab, Utah. For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good, the lawsuit said. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. In Colorado, she met Michaud, who had moved there from France. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Telling stories that matter in a dynamic, evolving state. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on June 13, 2020 when she, along with her new husband Ludovic Michaud, visited Utah. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. November 13, 2020 / 7:49 AM Chang said she plans to file a formal lawsuit if the claim is rejected. Newlyweds Esther Essie Nakajjigo, 25, and Ludovic Ludo Michaud, 27, were driving out of the park during a camping trip on June 13 when strong winds blew the metal gate into the side of their car and penetrated it like a hot knife through butter, according to the administrative claim, which was filed in October. WebThis incident happened June 13 just before 2 p.m. as the couple were leaving the park, according to the claim. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The National parks Service didn't respond to a request for comment on the claim from The Sun. 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She and Michaud were married in March, and the two traveled to Arches to celebrate the one-year anniversary of when they first met on a dating app. However, in his 10-page decision, Jenkins observed that the case was somewhat unusual, insofar as neither the victim nor the plaintiffs were U.S. citizens. According to the claim, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo was decapitated while sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was exiting Arches National Park. Ludovic Michaud says that his wife, 25-year-old Esther Nakajjigo, was decapitated when a metal gate swung into their 2020 Chevy Malibu as they were leaving the park on June 13, 2020, according to the claim. Legal Reader is devoted to protecting consumers. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Family sues after newlywed is killed by swinging gate at Arches National Park, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Bay Area honeymooners say snorkel boat abandoned them off Maui coast, At least 26 killed in fiery train crash in Greece, If it was your child, when would you give up? Mother searches for 5-year-old son swept away in January floods, Online fundraiser emerges for Brentwood father who died while kayaking. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was on a trip to the Utah park with her husband of three months when the gate swung across the road and struck their car on June 13, 2020. "I don't know how I could stand to see another thing like that happen, and I just want to make sure we do whatever we can to avoid, to save another life. DENVER (AP) The family of a womens rights activist from Uganda has filed a more than $270 million wrongful death and personal injury claim against the National Park Service after she was decapitated by an unsecured gate at Utahs Arches National Park. It's likely the first step in a lengthy federal lawsuit. Nakajjigo moved to Boulder, Colorado when she was offered a full scholarship to the Watson Institute and began a social entrepreneurship program in 2019. Michaud, of Denver, is seeking a little more than $240 million in damages, while Nakajjigos parents are seeking $30 million. Arches National Park is best known for its pristine sandstone arches and its massive red Delicate Arch, which has featured in countless Instagram photos. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. The claim says the gate was left open and unrestrained, causing major damage to the hood and the front passenger fender, door and window. Please enter valid email address to continue. We are unapologetic in our dedication to informing the public and unafraid to call out those who are more focused on profits than peoples safety. Michaud is seeking $240 million in damages and Nakajjigo's parents are seeking $30 million. This photo was taken in the hours before a gate swung into the couple's car, killing Nakajjigo.